In 2012, Dr. Macchiarini performs a breakthrough thoracic surgery, but some colleagues in Sweden question his science. In the present, Macchiarini operates on Hannah and becomes romantically involved with Benita, a news producer covering the surgery.
In 2012, Macchiarini's research gets published after his patient in Sweden is asymptomatic two months post-surgery. In the present, Hannah suffers complications. Paolo and Benita grow closer. Paolo seeks new patients to expand his practice.
In 2012 Stockholm, another Dr. Macchiarini surgery ends tragically. In the present, Benita meets Paolo's parents and decides to investigate his background before moving with him to Barcelona.
In the past, doctors in Sweden and Belgium suspect that Dr. Macchiarini is not running animal trials and is instead experimenting on people. Benita realizes Paolo's promises are lies and uncovers dark secrets from his past.
Yesim, a young Turkish woman, travels to Sweden for a consultation and ends up on Dr. Macchiarini's operating table. Dr. Gamelli fights to keep Yesim alive and forcefully raises concerns about Macchiarini's procedure.
In Russia, Macchiarini is set to perform elective surgery on the wife of an oligarch, but Dr. Lasbrey convinces her to postpone it. Benita realizes Paolo's lies go deeper than she thought. Ana returns to Sweden and confirms her suspicions.
Doctors Gamelli, Svensson and Lasbrey blow the whistle on Macchiarini but face the consequences. In Russia, Paolo convinces Yulia to go through with the surgery. Benita struggles to tell her story.
The doctors in Sweden defend their findings to the Karolinska board, and their report leaks to the press. Benita's colleague publishes the story of Paolo's deception and misconduct. Swedish authorities make a decision about Macchiarini's case.